WHAT’S NEW?

1. The rotation is improved. Having a healthy Stephen Strasburg ready from the start of the season would be enough to lift any rotation. But the Nationals got busy in the offseason. They traded for lefthander Gio Gonzalez, who went 16-12 with a 3.12 ERA with the A’s last season, then quickly locked him up with a five-year extension. They also signed durable righthander Edwin Jackson, who helped the Cardinals win the World Series in 2011. The newcomers have so deepened the rotation that the team’s top starter since 2008, John Lannan, has been squeezed out of a starting spot. Even with Chien-Ming Wang (hamstring) beginning the season on the disabled list, Lannan was sent to Class AAA and could be used as trade bait.

2. There is a new veteran presence. To help develop a lineup that includes five players under 30 and a bullpen led by a 24-year-old closer, the Nationals brought in two veterans known for their professional approaches. That Mark DeRosa and Brad Lidge each own a World Series ring wasn’t a coincidence, either. After signing DeRosa, G.M. Mike Rizzo said, “His character and makeup are championship-caliber, and his intelligence and baseball acumen are vital components to accomplishing our goal.” DeRosa could get time in the outfield and all over the infield, and Lidge is expected to work a seventh-inning setup role.

3. Expectations are high. The Nationals went 40-43 after Davey Johnson replaced Jim Riggleman as manager last season and finished third in the NL East with an 80-81 record, their sixth consecutive losing since going .500 in their first year in Washington. But the humble history hasn’t stopped Johnson from setting a lofty goal. “We should make the playoffs—there’s no doubt in my mind,” he said in a TV interview this spring. And if they don’t? “They can fire me.” Mike Morse, the club’s best hitter last season, likes what he sees, too. “We have the most talent I have been a part of on any team,” he says.

PROJECTED LINEUP

1. SS Ian Desmond. He led the club with 25 steals last season but must improve his on-base percentage (.298) and reduce his strikeouts (139) to stay in the leadoff spot.

2. RF Jayson Werth. In 2011, he didn’t live up to his $126 million contract; his .232 average and .330 on-base percentage were his lowest since 2003.

3. 3B Ryan Zimmerman. He hit .289 with a .355 on-base percentage last season but averaged a career-low homer every 32.9 at-bats.

4. LF Mike Morse. In 2011, he more than doubled his previous highs in homers (31) and RBIs (96) while hitting for a .303 average, .360 OBP and .550 slugging percentage.

5. 1B Adam LaRoche*. He hit only three homers in 177 plate appearances before a shoulder surgery ended his 2011 season.

6. 2B Danny Espinosa. His 21 homers ranked second among NL second basemen to Dan Uggla’s 36, but his total of 166 strikeouts led all second basemen.

7. C Wilson Ramos. In his first season as regular, the 24-year-old hit .267 with 15 homers in 435 plate appearances.

8. CF Roger Bernadina. He hit seven homers and stole 17 bases in 91 games last season; he will go to the bench when Bryce Harper makes his debut.

* Expected to begin the season on the D.L.

PROJECTED ROTATION

1. RHP Stephen Strasburg. In five starts (24 innings) last September after returning from Tommy John surgery, he had 24 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA.

2. LHP Gio Gonzalez. He topped 200 innings in each of the past two seasons for the A’s while winning 31 games and posting a 3.17 ERA.

3. RHP Jordan Zimmermann. In 2011, his first full season after Tommy John surgery, he had a 3.18 ERA in 26 starts (161⅓ innings).

4. RHP Edwin Jackson. He has made at least 30 starts in each of the past five seasons, recording a 4.34 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP in that time.

5. RHP Chien-Ming Wang*. After missing all of 2010, he returned last July and went 4-3 with a 4.04 ERA in 11 starts. Ross Detwiler will fill in at the start of the season.

* Expected to begin the season on the D.L.

PROJECTED CLOSER

RHP Drew Storen*. In his first season as full-time closer, he went 43-for-48 in save chances and 17-for-18 with a 1.83 ERA against the NL East. He has had some elbow issues in camp.

* Expected to begin the season on the D.L.

SCOUT’S VIEWS

Strengths: “They should have the most improved pitching in the league, if Stephen Strasburg is what we saw at the end of last season. Jordan Zimmermann has a good arm, and he should be better in his second season after Tommy John surgery. You know what Edwin Jackson will do, but the guy who will be worth watching is Gio Gonzalez. He’s a power lefty who fits this rotation well.”

Weaknesses: “It shows how much better this team is getting when you start talking about middle relief as their main weakness. But that’s how it shapes up. They’re set with Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard at the back, but they’re living dangerously if they think they can get two-inning outings out of Brad Lidge. Their starters aren’t what you would call workhorses at this point, so getting from the starters to the eighth inning is going to be key for them.”

BOTTOM LINE

The Nationals have plenty of talent up and down the roster, led by Stephen Strasburg and Ryan Zimmerman. What they don’t have is much experience of playing in a pennant race. This year will be about maturing. Their time will come next year.